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Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by adrianN on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:31PM (#15213520)
I wonder how long it will take until some enterprising society will start a new eugenic breeding program, this round with a faster feedback loop. It could start as simple as extra tax breaks for desireable genotypes if they have children, or tax reductions for undesireables if they get long-term birth control. Already in you can reduce prison sentences by voluntary sterilization in Tennessee.
Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by has2k1 on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:59PM (#15213695)
Top down control is kind-of hard. Given increased availability of genetic data, democratised action is easier to envision. You start off with compatibility tests against genetic disorders [1]. Then those that lead to potentially the better offsprings [2]. That opens the door for egg/sperm selection [3]. Then third-party gene introductions [4]. All the way to complete designer babies. These action may even completely cut out evolution from the equation, but evolution can be sneaky.

At every step of the way it becomes slightly more acceptable to push the boundaries just so slightly.

[1] Been the case for many decades now in the case of sickle-cell anaemia, this affects partner selection. In the last decade selection against mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 i.e the "breast cancer genes", has lead to searches for egg donors. Also, some people with history of severe depression that runs in the family are self selecting against child bearing (this selection is more common among females).

[2] This could even be pseudo-science at the beginning.

[3] Sperm and egg banks already allow for a crude version of this.

[4] Either natural or synthetic.

Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by Will_Parker on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:43PM (#15213588)
It doesn't even need to be breeding, it could be CRISPR technology. How close is that to the mass market? To some parents it could be very defensible as technology to fix a child's genetic defect, which was preventing longer life or peak brain function.
Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by perlgeek on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:58PM (#15213687)
According to this article, it's not yet ready for the mass market: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/gene-editor-crispr-wo...

I'm not a biologist, but reading this sounds more like a few years till mass market, not the ominous "30 years" you hear when people really have no clue how long it's going to take :-)

Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by adrianN on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:53PM (#15213661)
Is CRISPR suitable for doing more than single location fixes? I feel that breeding would work better for traits such as intelligence or longevity that seem to be controlled by many genes, each of which has only a tiny influence.
Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by PrimalDual on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:41PM (#15213578)
I am probably being naive but I see nothing wrong with the examples you listed. Isn't this how iceland essentially erradicated downs syndrome? Using information about genetics to inform how we steer the populations' gene pool sounds very good to me.
Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by patrickg_zill on Monday September 11, 2017 @05:19PM (#15222430)
Some believe that Britain did this in the past; with the combination of the richer in society having many more children, and hanging (gene pool removal) criminals on a regular basis.
Re:Massive genetic study shows how humans are evolving by 0xfeba on Sunday September 10, 2017 @02:40PM (#15213567)
IIRC, China is trying to do just that.